PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes.,PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder are granted, with PTSD being secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, sinusitis, cervical degenerative disc and joint disease (neck condition), acid reflux, chronic fatigue syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and tension headaches are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including schizophrenia and PTSD, due to military sexual trauma (MST), is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received since the June 2011 rating decision denying entitlement to service connection for PTSD. Service connection will be remanded for further examination and medical opinion.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining authorization for medical records from Kingwood Psychiatry and a VA psychiatric examination. The cases are being remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified trauma or stress-related disorder and PTSD) claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence from VA clinicians. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed.,The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service or is related to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his in-service fall, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's left hip disability is remanded for an addendum opinion from a clinician to determine if the sartorius muscle injury and spurring at the acetabulum are related to his in-service fall.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, is related to his service-connected left knee disability or bilateral shin splints, or was noted during service with continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee conditions, and a left ankle condition were granted in full upon remand. The Board finds that additional remands are required due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from after January 2020.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD from July 15, 2012 to September 30, 2015. The Veteran's entitlement to TDIU prior to June 1, 2015 is moot due to the grant of the higher rating. DEA benefits are granted as of July 15, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 2, 2012 to September 20, 2017. SMC was granted for the same period due to his chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% effective October 14, 2014. The Board also granted a TDIU rating from April 8, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for depression and anxiety. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 10 percent for his left inguinal hernia repair scar is granted. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, left hip condition, and right hip condition are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of PTSD, TDIU, and DEA benefits. The appeal was dismissed for an earlier effective date claim regarding SMC benefits prior to February 28, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress and psychotic features was granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, chronic stage 4 kidney disease, heart disease, diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities, and diabetic neuropathy of the upper extremities were all denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted as of March 12, 2018. The effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension was March 11, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The VA will obtain private treatment records from St. Joseph's Hospital and provide a new medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has denied eligibility for attorney fees in relation to the service connection of right elbow ulnar neuropathy, but granted eligibility for attorney fees related to the increased disability rating for PTSD with bipolar disorder and anxious distress.

The Board granted a TDIU rating from July 9, 2016 to December 22, 2017 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities of PTSD, IHD, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no diagnosis of PTSD and his symptoms were attributable to an already service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, as it only showed occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The case was remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board has decided that the VA did not provide a necessary examination to determine if the Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by or aggravated by her service-connected PTSD. The case is being sent back for this purpose.